Tennis chic at Wimbledon is traditionally bound by rigid rules as one player
yesterday found to his cost.

Czech Republic's Radek Stepanek changes his trainers before his match against Serbia's Novak Djokovic during day five of the 2012 Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, WimbledonPhoto: PA

By Victoria Ward

6:51PM BST 29 Jun 2012

When Radek Stepanek, from the Czech Republic, strolled confidently onto Centre Court in bright red and blue shoes he was immediately ordered to change before he could start his third round match against top seed Novak Djokovic.

The club rules are notoriously strict, stating that clothes must be "predominantly white" while any logos must be "discreet".

It is rare for players to get caught flouting the rules as manufacturers are required to submit their designs to Wimbledon officials for approval ahead of the championships.

However, already this week, John Isner, a US player was asked to remove his wrist bands ahead of a match and Italian Fabio Fognini was asked to cut an inch off the back of his bandana because it was longer than regulations allow.

Wimbledon chiefs have always refused to compromise on the championship's strict dress code, maintaining and defending its values since its birth in 1877.

However, the colour rules do not apply to underwear and accessories, ensuring that female players keen to show a little individuality are reduced to flashing garishly coloured underwear.

Gussie Moran, from California, was the first woman to throw caution to the wind at Wimbledon, prompting gasps as she strode out onto the court in 1949 wearing a dress so short that her lace-trimmed knickers were clearly visible.

In a parliamentary debate, Moran was said to have brought "vulgarity and sin" into tennis, and her dress designer, Ted Tinling, was not invited back to the club for more than 30 years.

Today, players such as Maria Sharapova and the Williams sisters design their own clothes and regularly cause a stir by pushing the fashion rules to the limit.

US player Bethanie Mattek-Sands this week dyed her hair in the Wimbledon colours of purple and green and has also sported black latex stickers on her face.

It is not just the women who push the boundaries. Flamboyant American Andre Agassi refused to play at Wimbledon because of its strict dress code. When he returned from his self-imposed exile in 1991, the umpire watched nervously as he unzipped his tracksuit, only to reveal an all-white outfit.

Rafael Nadal only just passes muster with his knee-length "pirate" trousers and sleeveless tops.

However, Stepanek's fashion faux pas sees him join only a small number who have been ordered off the court to change.

In 2002, Anna Kournikova wore black shorts instead of a white skirt during a warm up before one of the games, and was asked to change immediately by the referee.

A few years earlier, John McEnroe was promptly sent off to get changed after strolling out in black shorts.

In 2006, Andy Murray narrowly avoided falling foul of the rules when an official quizzed him about his cap as he walked onto court.

"He was asking if my hat had been okayed because there was a bit of blue on it,' he said.

"I lied and said it had. He still phoned the referee to see if it was all right. Luckily it was."

And the following year, French teenager Tatiana Golovin caused a stir amongst Wimbledon's old guard when she walked out sporting crimson hotpants under her tennis whites.

Miss Golovin, then 19, claimed the pants did not breach the dress code because they were higher than the hem of her skirt. "Red is the colour that proves you're strong and confident, so I'm happy," she said.